exile

American  

[eg-zahyl, ek-sahyl] / ˈɛg zaɪl, ˈɛk saɪl /

noun

1. expulsion from one's native land by authoritative decree.

2. the fact or state of expulsion from one's native land by authoritative decree.

   She had to live in exile.

3. a person banished from their native land.

4. prolonged separation from one's country or home, such as by force of circumstances.

   Many will suffer wartime exile.

5. anyone separated from their country or home voluntarily or by force of circumstances.

6. the Exile, the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, 597–538 b.c.

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verb (used with object)

exiled, exiling

1. to expel or banish (a person) from their country; expatriate.

   Synonyms:

   deport, eject, evict

2. to separate from country, home, etc..

   Disagreements exiled him from his family.

   Synonyms:

   deport, eject, evict

exile ¹ British  

/ ˈɛksaɪl, ɛɡˈzɪlɪk, ɛkˈsɪlɪk, ˈɛɡzaɪl /

noun

1. a prolonged, usually enforced absence from one's home or country; banishment

2. the expulsion of a person from his native land by official decree

3. a person banished or living away from his home or country; expatriate

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verb

1. to expel from home or country, esp by official decree as a punishment; banish

Exile ² British  

/ ˈɛɡzaɪl, ˈɛksaɪl /

noun

1. another name for Babylonian captivity

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Other Word Forms

• exilable adjective
• exiler noun
• exilic adjective
• quasi-exiled adjective
• unexiled adjective

Etymology

Origin of exile

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English exil “banishment,” from Latin ex(s)ilium, equivalent to exsul “banished person” + -ium -ium

Explanation

If you are exiled from a place, you must leave and not return. Such punishment is called exile. For example, after he was removed from power, Napoleon lived in exile on the island of Elba. The verb exile comes from the Old French word essillier, meaning “banish, expel, or drive off.” However, some people who live in exile do so happily — and voluntarily — like American citizens in exile in Paris. Don't confuse being exiled with being banned: exile is for countries. If you cause trouble at a restaurant, you might be banned from returning, not exiled.

Example Sentences

A lapse in judgment has sent the previously infallible industry visionary, with Agnes in tow, into self-imposed, self-described exile on Maui, where the Hopkinses have built a showstopper of a house.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Which feels, in retrospect, like a ridiculous standard: to exile an entire cut of meat because it didn’t impress me at 12.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

Some of its staff were forced into exile and founded the online outlet Novaya Gazeta-Europe.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

How Tereza’s exile helps her countrymen isn’t quite clear, but I suspect it starts with giving someone younger her house and her job.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Meanwhile, the shah and his family, now in exile, were desperately looking for a country to take them in.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Related Words

• banish
• displace
• drive out
• evacuate
• expel
• extradite
• ostracize
• oust
• outlaw
• relegate